TALKIN’ GOLF: Andy Morse earns berth in US Senior Open

Monday

Jul 16, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 16, 2012 at 4:15 PM

Back in the day, long before long putters, when permission drives rules and nobody ever heard of offset, perimeter weighting or titanium clubs or hybrids, Weymouth had a handful of terrific golfers and what made it amazing was that Weymouth did not have a golf course.

There was Crash Nash, who could hit the ball from one area code to the other. And there was Tom Rooney, whose play was steady and so calm under pressure, you couldn’t tell if he was 5-under par or 5-over par. And there was Andy Morse, one of the most likeable golfers, but someone who seemed snake-bitten from the time he began playing in big tournaments.

Paul Harber

Back in the day, long before long putters, when permission drives rules and nobody ever heard of offset, perimeter weighting or titanium clubs or hybrids, Weymouth had a handful of terrific golfers and what made it amazing was that Weymouth did not have a golf course.

There was Crash Nash, who could hit the ball from one area code to the other. And there was Tom Rooney, whose play was steady and so calm under pressure, you couldn’t tell if he was 5-under par or 5-over par. And there was Andy Morse, one of the most likeable golfers, but someone who seemed snake-bitten from the time he began playing in big tournaments.

He was never a Country Club hiho, Morse learned his game, playing at working class Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton, then famous for its band of golf characters, where $2 Nassaus could turn into three- and four-digit wagers.

Morse was a natural. Only bad luck prevented him from winning the 1983 Massachusetts Open—he mismarked his ball on the 17th green at Charles River, giving the title to Dana Quigley. He finally captured the State Open and owned it for a few years, winning at Oak Hill in 1989 and at Taconic in 1992.

He’s won just about everything in the region. Morse also won back-to-back New England Opens in 1986 and ‘87. He made a complete sweep of winning the Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire opens in 1989. He followed the sun honing his skills. In the winter, he played the Southern Africa Tour for two winters in the late 1980s.

He once had a great run on the mini-tours. Morse played on the Hooters Tour from 1995 to 1999, winning seven tournaments, including four in a row. He also qualified for the first of his three appearances in the US Open during that stretch.

For parts of 15 years, he played on the Nationwide Tour, winning the Utah Open in 2000. That year his scoring average was 70.16.

One amazing stat is that he has made 16 Hole-In-Ones during competitive play. That doesn’t mean friendly rounds with buddies or practice rounds, but in tournament action.

He always seemed to be on the verge of breaking through, making it to the final stage of PGA Qualifying School, only to miss.

For many years he worked and represented Blue Hills CC when his biggest supporter, Vinnie Del Zoppo ruled the rooster from his pro shop perch.

Since 2008, he gives lessons at McGolf’s Driving Range and Practice Center in Dedham.

Now plus 50, Morse has not given up the dream of a big pay day.

He signed up and tried to qualify for the US Senior Open against nearly 100 other professional golfers, who battled for two berths at the treacherous Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro on June 20.

Morse preserved on a day that temperatures flirted with the 100-degree mark. He fashioned an even-par 72, good enough for the second spot in the championship, which will be held on July 12-15 at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich.